The Linguistic and Stylistic Means of Representation of Motives and Images in English-Language Orthodox Hymnography: Cognitive Aspect

Abstract

The article describes the linguistic and stylistic means used to create verbal images of saints in church hymnography. Original canons and akathists written by English native speakers are used for the research. These texts are chosen because they are considered to be a specific medium where elements of the scope of religious (Orthodox) concepts are represented. Hymnographic texts are written according to specific genre modals which imply the usage of a significant number of linguistic and stylistic means. Not only do these means determine the outer form of such texts, but they also relate to the transferred message. The meanings conveyed in hymnographic texts are closely connected with religious experience. The cognitive approach to linguistic and stylistic means of church text makes it possible to describe the metaphorical patterns of the mental processing of religious experience. It is concluded in the article that the most frequent linguistic and stylistic means in the researched hymnography are metaphors based on epithets and antitheses. The results of the analysis demonstrate that the following source domains are used to create conceptual metaphors: water and water current, nature phenomena, light phenomena, warfare, construction (as a particular type of building). The images of saints are also represented with the help of image schema “container” which is connected with how the outcome of pious lifestyle is mentally represented. The antithesis underlines contrast between religious and lay lifestyles. The contextual antonyms, as elements of the antithesis, function as meaning points of the situations described in hymnographic texts and thus they also transfer some information about religious experience.